Tag Archives: Ruppert

In May, 2011, I wrote an article for the Bronx Baseball Daily blog. Click on the link to read the article. It’s good to see a slight finally righted in the election of Jacob Ruppert to baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Jacob Ruppert was elected to the Hall of Fame today by the Veterans Committee. The Yanks’ owner in the Ruthian era built the original Yankee Stadium.

Meanwhile, GM Brian Cashman will need to do yeoman work to build a team. We already knew that a catcher and RF may need to be found, what with Martin’s departure and Swisher’s probable departure. Throw in DH if they don’t bring back Ibanez.

Now count 3B into the mix.

Alex Rodriguez will need surgery on his other hip (possibly explaining his poor postseason) and will miss half of the 2013 season.

You wonder if his body is breaking down. It sure appears so. Alex will be 38 in July. You also wonder if that steroid abuse while in Texas has anything to do with it.

You also wonder if he’ll even get the 53 HR he needs for 700. (He needs 99 hits for 3000 and 50 RBI for 2000).

Meanwhile, do the Yanks now bring back 35 year old Eric Chavez for 3B? He’s brittle and would need to platoon. But with whom? Where does Eduardo Nunez slot in, especially if Jeter isn’t ready for Opening Day?

The left side of the Yankees’ infield is now a mess. Two aging, injured players.

Do David Adams (26 in May, AA .306-8-48 in 86 games) or Ronnier Mustelier (28, .314-15-69, AA/AAA, 114 games) get a shot? Platoon one or the other with Chavez?

So now Cashman has to deal with a catcher (unless they are going with Cervelli or Romine), 3B (do you bring back Chavez, and who platoons with him?), possibly a SS if Jeter isn’t ready, a DH (do you bring back Ibanez?) and a RF (do you bring back Ichiro?) Do you sign someone like Cody Ross, Shane Victorino or Ichiro for RF? Trade for a Justin Upton or Mike Cuddyer? Give Melky Mesa a shot at a platoon role? Trade for a catcher? What about DH? Utility infielder?

Position-wise, there are some four positions there where things are a mess.

Cashman has some work to do.

Forget Mike Napoli at C (the Yanks never had interest). The power hitting, but weak defense C signed a 3-yr. deal w/Boston—-to play 1B.

I was kind of hoping that the Yanks would take a flyer on Joakim Soria, thinking that Soria, coming off TJ surgery, might be worth a shot to replace the expected-to-depart Rafael Soriano. Instead, Soria signed with Texas.

The Veterans’ Committee is looking at a list of people, with a winner to be announced December 3rd for induction into the Hall of Fame.

The list includes Bill Dahlen, Wes Farrell, Marty Marion (1944 NL MVP, but a war year; his .263 b.a. that year is the lowest by any MVP that was a position player), Tony Mullane, Bucky Walters, Deacon White, Sam Breadon, Hank O’Day, Al Reach and Jacob Ruppert.

Frankly, I find it quite shocking that the man who built the original Yankee Stadium, who brought Babe Ruth to NY, and who built the Yankee dynasty, isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet.

Pat Gillick was chosen for the HOF by the Veterans Committee today. The long-time front office exec was the only one selected.

The Veterans’ Committee will next discuss this group of candidates in 2013, meaning that the “Boss” needs to wait at least three years.

From LoHud (bold emphasis mine):

The Expansion Era Committee has elected one new member to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and it’s not George Steinbrenner.

Pat Gillick, the longtime general manager, was the only person on the ballot to receive the necessary 12 votes. He got 13. Next closest was Marvin Miller who fell one vote shy. The only other name receiving as many as eight votes was Dave Concepcion. (My note: ex-teammates Johnny Bench and Tony Perez were among the 16 people voting, as well as contemporary SS Ozzie Smith. Hey, when Rizzuto got in, Yogi and Bill White were on the committee).

Our friends at Bronx Baseball Daily bring up an unknown fact. In writing about Selig’s comments that the Boss should be in the HOF, BBD notates that it was mentioned to Selig that Jacob Ruppert is not in the HOF.

In the past, I have advocated (and been validated by their eventual admissions) that Tony Lazzeri and Joe Gordon make the HOF.

Now, to rectify a gross oversight. Jacob Ruppert belongs in the Hall.

How can he be left out for so long? The man who brought the Babe to the Bronx. Who originally built the Yankee empire (along with Ed Barrow, who IS in the Hall). Really, how many people know Highlander history? To many, the story of the Yankees begins with Ruppert. It begins with him bringing Ruth to NY. People know of Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, etc. How many equate Yankees history with Keeler, Chesbro, Pipp or Fritz Maisel? Ford means Whitey, not Russ (I’ll let you look up Russ Ford—your homework assignment!)

Ruppert built the original cathedral. The original Yankee Stadium, where so many WS games were played. Where history outside of baseball was created, be it the 1958 NFL Championship, fabulous boxing matches, or papal masses.

Barney Dreyfuss is in. So are Walter O’Malley, Charlie Comiskey, Branch Rickey, George Weiss and Tom Yawkey. So is Bill Veeck. For God’s sake, Bowie Kuhn is in.

But no Jake Ruppert? When Ruppert died in January 1939, his teams had won 7 World Series. They had won 10 AL pennants. They were the first team to win three consecutive World Series (and would make it four straight later in 1939).

If the “Boss” gets in, then Ruppert should go in with him. It is long past time that the man who built the original Yankee Stadium and who first made the Yankees the YANKEES gets his fair due.

It’s way past time for this man to be honored in Cooperstown.

Now on to something disturbing. In his career, Lance Berkman has hit 326 HR. None as a Yankee, yet. You wonder when the first one will come, and whether it will be in a big spot. This is a guy who hit 42 HR in 2002. Who had 45 in 2006. Who had 25 last year. Who, apparently, is getting “old” at the age of 34.

For Berkman’s last HR came on July 27th. Before the trade deadline deal that sent him to the Yankees. The switch-hitter is better from the left side, but hasn’t been able to take advantage of the RF porch as of yet. 86 AB as a Yankee. NO HR. No HR in his last 92 AB. 92, from a guy with 326 career HR. Who has averaged one HR per 17.3 AB in his career. None in his last 92 AB. He is hitting .279 as a Yankee, but you expected pop. His SA as a Yankee is .349. Out of 24 hits, six doubles. The rest are singles. Let’s put the .349 SA into perspective. Eduardo Nunez has a .391. Juan Miranda a .435. BRETT GARDNER a .381. Even the slumping Jeter a .370.

Where has Berkman’s power gone? A resurgence now, with 12 games left in the regular season, and a postseason looming, would be welcome…and perhaps necessary.

Let’s start at the beginning (because it’s a very nice place to start…).

Pregame ceremony. A while back, I wrote about how the monument for George should be like Ruppert’s plaque, not a monument like Ruth’s, Gehrig’s, Huggins’, etc. Who says I don’t have pull? LOL. For a plaque like Ruppert’s it is, only much bigger.

It was great to see Torre and Mattingly there, along with other Yankee greats like Yogi, Reggie, Tino and David Wells. It looked like Torre had tears in his eyes.

To the game. I love Ivan Nova’s toughness. Once again he pitched great….but therein also lies a problem. Last week in Tampa he gave four great shutout innings, then lost it in the fifth. Tonight, he pitched five great shutout innings.

As Yogi would say, Deja Vu all over again.

Last week Nova had a 6-0 lead against the Rays before having to get pulled with two out in the fifth. Brilliant for four, fell apart in the fifth, and Logan couldn’t hold the lead.

Tonight, Nova (4.37) brilliant for five, and had a 4-0 lead in the sixth. That lead came from a 2-run Granderson HR in the 3rd, and a SF by Alex and bases-loaded walk to Swisher in the 5th. 4-0 going into the sixth, when Nova lost it.

I like what I see from Nova. I like it more than AJ or Vazquez. After CC, Andy or Hughes, I trust Nova in the postseason as the #4 more than I do AJ or Vazquez. BUT (and it’s a big BUT) Nova MUST be put on a short leash. A VERY short leash. Meaning once he gets in trouble in the fifth or sixth, yank him.

For in the sixth, Nova gave up a single, walk and single. Bases loaded, no out. Catcher’s interference on Cervelli brought in a run, then a DP ball brought in another.

As last week, Logan came in and as last week, couldn’t hold the lead. Single for the 3rd run (charged to Nova). Walk. Single. Logan can’t get the damned third out. ERA 2.89 as he gave up two hits and a walk and retired no one.

Gaudin in. I have no clue why Girardi has faith in him. None. It’s like he has compromising pix of Joe G. or something. Gaudin (when he comes in, I say God Damn!) walks in the tying run. Then a flyout on a 3-2 pitch. 1/3 of an inning. Somehow he gets the win. 1-4, 5.25.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gardner and Cervelli single. Jeter singles in a run to put the Yanks up 5-4, and Granderson hits #21, his second HR of the game, off the RF foul pole for a three-run HR and an 8-4 lead. The Yanks would need it. A five-RBI night for Granderson.

Robertson for the 7th. Single, Single, Force and SF make it 8-5. 2/3 IP for D-Rob, ERA 3.83. Wood comes in. SB for Crawford, then a walk before Wood gets out of it.

In the 8th, I want to pull my hair out. Swish singles, Berkman walks. Then, finally, a bunt to move the runners over. I’ve been hollering like hell for more bunting all week. But Gardner pops the bunt up for a DP. There is absolutely NO excuse for players like Gardner, Golson, Curtis, Pena, Cervelli to not be able to bunt. NONE. They aren’t power hitters. Some are marginal major leaguers at best. Others are blessed with great speed. There is no excuse for them to not be able to bunt.

No problems for Wood in the 8th. 1 1/3. 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and a K. The best pickup of the trade deadline for Cashman, by far, over Kearns and Berkman. ERA 3.14. His ERA as a Yankee is something like 0.40.

Concerns? For in the 9th, Mo gives up a run. This after blowing yesterday’s game. He does get save #32 (558 career) but it wasn’t pretty. Granted some bad luck as a ground-rule double hit chalk and the RBI single that followed was a blooper (broken bat?). A HBP. Tying run on, go-ahead run up but Mo closes the game. 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, a HBP, 0 W, 0 K. The ERA to (gasp!) 1.58. But the last two days haven’t shown us the Mo we are used to and spoiled over.

Granderson with the 2 HR (21) and 5 RBI (59). 3 hits for Cervelli.

Boston also lost.

Magic #s? 5 to make the playoffs. 12 for the division title. Best record in the AL by just 1 game over the Twins.

In the NL, the west is up for grabs, while the Phils look like they could 3-peat as NL champs. The Phils won their 8th straight tonight.

An elite group of 20 former Major League managers, umpires and executives are under consideration for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 by a pair of Veterans Committees.

The results of the vote, scheduled for Dec. 6, will be announced the next day at baseball’s Winter Meetings, which will be held in Indianapolis.

There will be two ballots, each with 10 candidates, under consideration. One will include eight former managers and two umpires and will be reviewed by the 16-member Veterans Committee for Managers and Umpires.

The second includes 10 executives and “baseball pioneers,” and will be considered by a 12-member committee.

Both voting committees consist of Hall of Famers, current and former executives, and veteran media members, with all asked to vote for up to four candidates on their ballots.

Any candidate receiving votes on 75 percent of all ballots cast will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, slated for July 25 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Among the finalists on the manager/umpire ballot are Whitey Herzog, who won six division titles with the Rangers, Angels, Royals and Cardinals between 1973 and 1990 and was named 1980s Manager of the Decade by Sports Illustrated; Davey Johnson, who guided his teams to first-place finishes five times in 12 full seasons with the Mets, Reds, Orioles and Dodgers between 1984 and 2000, and was the 1987 American League Manager of the Year with Baltimore; and the late Billy Martin, who led the 1977 New York Yankees to a World Series title during a 16-year managerial career that saw him at the helm of the Twins, Tigers, Rangers and A’s, and included five stints with the Yankees.

The other nominees are former managers Charlie Grimm, Tom Kelly, Gene Mauch, Danny Murtaugh and Steve O’Neill; and former umpires Doug Harvey and Hank O’Day.

Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

It would be nice for Billy to get in, but I feel that despite his managerial accomplishments that he made too many enemies to get elected. Herzog could be a possibility.

One person who really deserves consideration is Marvin Miller. Talk about changing the game…

Harvey (nicknamed “God” when he umpired) would be an interesting choice, as would Gene Autry.

Where I live, the Lehigh Valley now has the Phillies AAA team, the Iron Pigs. It’s the first minor league team in the Lehigh Valley since 1960. Where the Lehigh Valley Mall stands today used to be a ballfield…Breadon Field, named after Sam Breadon. A new field was built for the Iron Pigs (yes, that’s their nickname).

Yankee fans may wonder how in the world Jacob Ruppert isn’t in the hall yet.

I wonder what the Scooter would have said about that huckleberry Bill White getting in as an executive, and of course, Yankee fans remember Gabe Paul as Yankee GM in the mid-1970s.

One person not on the list is Pat Moran. He died too young (48) but his managerial record wasn’t bad at all. Check it out.